Dispensing attachment for collapsible tubes



Nov. 24, 1931.

M. B. HOMER DISPENSING ATTACHMENT FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed May 7, 1931 INVEN TOR.

QMAA (2. A TTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 24, 1931 PATENT OFFICE mm B. HOMER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND mam Name arracmmn'r FOR comrsmrn TUBES Application filed Kay 7,

My invention relates to improvements in dispensing devices for collapsible tubes such as are in quite general use as containers for pastes, creams, paints, salves etc., which are ejected from the tubes by compressing the latter.

My present invention is a direct improvement on the device shown in U. S. Letters Patent 1,7 97,686 granted to me March 24th,

1931, and resides particularly in the improved means for ejecting the material that has been fed to a position in front of an eccentrically-arranged ejecting plunger.

In my improved device I omit the valvechamber of the structure of my said prior patent, and I have found,- that by this omissionl, the structure is simplified and cheapene The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein,-

Fig. 1 shows a portion of a collapsible tube in front elevation with my improved device attached thereto.

Fig. 2 illustrates the same in side elevation as viewed from one side thereof.

Fig. 3 shows the same as viewed from the opposite side.

Fig. 4 illustrates a portion of a tube on an enlarged scale with my improved device thereon but shown in section and with the ejecting plunger in the retracted position so that the contents of the tube may be forced to a position in front of the retracted plunger.

Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal section through the detached device with the plunger removed therefrom.

Fig. 6 illustrates the same in end View.

Fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional detail through the same, the section being taken on the line 77 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 illustrates the detached plunger in I side elevation.

'Fig. 9 shows the same in top or plan view, and a Fig. 10 illustrates the plunger in end elevation.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 6 designates a collapsible tube, such asis generally employed as a container for 1981. Serial No. 535,755.

tooth paste, cream or other semi-fluid substances.

These tubes usually have a breast 7 and a nozzle 8 which projects therefrom, said nozzle being provided With exterior screwthreads 9.

In the present instance, the structure is deslgned as an attachment for the collapsible tube and consists ofa short tubular body 10 having an interior screw-thread 11 at the inner end whereby it may receive and engage thgescrew-threaded nozzle of the collapsible tu At the outer end 12, the tubular dispensing device is beveled, and is closed, with the exception of an eccentrically-located semi-circular port 13 which latter has position at the higher portion of said beveled outer end.

The interior of the tubular body 10 is circular and differs from the tubular body of my said prior patent, particularly in that'it has a single longitudinal chamber 14 therein, which serves to retain a longitudinally-movable plunger 15 and to also provide a space 16 at one side and around both ends of the plunger for the passage of material through the body from the nozzle 8 to the eccentrically located semi-circular port 13.

In the improved structure I omit partitions of every kind on the interior of the tubular body and therefore avoid the use of a valvechamber that is separated from the passage for the material passing through the body, as in my said prior patent.

The plunger 15, in the present instance, is semi-circular in cross-section and has beveled front and rear ends 17 and 18 respectively, which make the plunger longer from front to rear along its arched top than it is in the same direction along its base.

The base 19 of the plunger is flat and, at opposite sides thereof, has longitudinal guide flanges 20 alon the shorter base.

The side gui e flanges 20 of the plunger project into and are supported in guidegrooves 21 in the wall of the longitudinal chamber 14 and the forward ends of the guide-grooves are located in the semi-circular eccentrically-located port 13 at the beveled outer end 12 of the tubular body.

The plunger therefore is supported in the single interior chamber 14 in an eccentric position and in alinement with the semi-circular eccentrically-located end-port, so as to leave a passage around the plunger from its inner to its outer end for the escape of material from the collapsible tube when the plunger is retracted.

The tubular body 10 is provided with a slot 22 in its upper side and a suitable actuating projection 23 is anchored in the plunger and extends through said slot to the exterior of the tubular body where it may readily be grasped by the fingers and actuated, as will presently e explained.

By reference to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the plunger is held up in the chamber 14 with its curved upper side in close contact with the curved wall of said chamber and when it is moved by the fingers in either a forward or a rearward direction its sharp beveled front or rear end-edges will shear any material from the wall of the chamber lying in its path of movement.

In operation, the plunger 15 will normally have position with its front beveled end 17 flush with the beveled end 12 of the body so that port 13 will be closed.

When it is desired to discharge material from the tube 6, the finger of the operator will engage the actuating-projection 23 and retract the plunger, or move it inwardly, to uncover the port 13.

Pressure on the tube 6 will then force the material therefrom and through the chamber 14 of the tubular body,the actuating-projection 23 being held in order that the plunger will not be moved forward with the forwardly-flowing material.

The material will therefore flow around the inner end 18 of the plunger, through space 16 and be directed by the curved wall 24 at the forward end of the body 10, up past the forward end 17 of the plunger 15 and to the port 13.

If only a small or practically measured quantity of material is desired, when the latter is pressed forward to the beveled endface 12 of the body, pressure on the collapsible tube 6 will be relieved.

At this moment the condition will be as illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein the paste material 25 directly in front of the plunger, and between the front end 17 thereof and the beveled face 12 of the tubular body 10, will represent the charge that is to be ejected.

Forward movement of the plunger 15 by the fingers, will then discharge the paste through port 13 and, during this operation, will cut ofl the material in space 16. Thus as each discharge takes place, the material in the tubular body will be cut off and no other operation will be necessary to effect a closure.

Obviously, forward and rearward movement of the plunger is directed by the flanges 20 and the guide-grooves 21.

Care has been taken to ensure that when the plunger 15 is in the forward position the rear end thereof will extend back far enough to prevent the slot 22 from being thrown into communication with the interior of the body behind the plunger.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. A collapsible tube, a tubular body at one end of the collapsible tube and communicating with the interior of the latter, said tubular body having an eccentrically located discharge-port in one end thereof and also having a single interior longitudinal chamber, a plunger in said single body-chamber and in alinement with said eccentrically located end port and said plunger being smaller than the said chamber whereby to.

leave a space therein for the passage of material from the collapsible tube along the side of the plunger to the eccentrically located discharge-port when the plunger is retracted.

2. A collapsible tube, a tubular body at one end of the collapsible tube and communicating with the interior of the latter, said tubular body having an eccentrically located discharge-port in one end thereof and also having a single interior longitudinal chamber, a plunger much smaller than and held against the wall of said single body-chamber whereby to leave a longitudinal space in said chamber between the collapsible tube and the eccentrically-located discharge-port and means for moving the plunger to and from the said port to close or open the same.

3. A collapsible tube, a tubular body at one end of the collapsible tube and communicating with the interior of the latter, said tubular body having an eccentrically located discharge-port in one end thereof and also having a single interior longitudinal chamber, a plunger slidably sustained against the wall of said body-chamber and being sufliciently smaller than the latter to leave a space therein from the discharge-port all the way along one side of the plunger to the collapsible tube, and means whereby the plunger may be held against movement toward the said port when material from the collapsible tubeis forced against the rear end thereof. v

4. A collapsible tube, a tubular body at one end of the collapsible tube and communicating with the interior of the latter, said tubular body having an eccentrically located discharge-port in one end thereof and also having a single interior longitudinal chamber, a plunger having guide means at its sides to engage the wall of said chamber and hold it at one side of the chamber whereby to leave a space all the way in said chamber from the inner end ast the outer end of said plunger to the disc arge port.

5. A collapsible tube, a tubular body at one end of the collapsible tube and communicating with the interior of the latter, said tubular body having an eccentrically located discharge-port in one end thereof and also having a single interior longitudinal chamber with guide grooves in its wall, a plunger having means at its sides for engaging said guide grooves to hold the plunger seated against one side of the chamber and leave a space at the diametrically opposite side of the chamber for the passage of material around the plunger to the discharge port and means for actuating the plunger.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' MAZIE B. HOMER. 

